Could you get help to pay for a new heating system? (Picture: Getty)

If your boiler isn’t energy efficient, you’ll be paying more in energy bills.

That’s a worry, given that winter is looming, there’s a greater need to switch the heating on, and we know that energy prices are set to soar again anyway in April 2023.

Of course, the last thing anyone needs at this time of year is a super old boiler to pack in altogether.

So, you might be wondering if there’s help available for replacing an old, broken or inefficient boiler – particularly if you’re on a lower income, or are/know a pensioner struggling to heat their home.

Here’s what’s available, and where to find out more.

What free boiler replacement schemes are there?

Is your boiler energy efficient? (Picture: Getty Images/Image Source)

There are two main schemes for getting your boiler replaced for free – or receiving a grant to help with the cost.

They are via the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme, and the separate Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

ECO4 Scheme

What is it? ECO is the government’s Energy Company Obligation scheme.

The scheme, which has been going since 2013, is currently on its fourth iteration called ECO4 – which is focusing on the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO).

In a nutshell, this compels major energy suppliers (with more than 150,000 customers) to help tackle fuel poverty by ensuring those with low incomes and in vulnerable situations are able to heat their homes, explains Ofgem.

So, you could get help installing insulation as well as a replacement for an old, inefficient boiler or heating system.

Who is eligible? People in England, Scotland and Wales who are on the following benefits may be eligible:

Child Tax CreditWorking Tax CreditUniversal CreditPension Guarantee CreditPension Savings CreditIncome SupportIncome-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)Child BenefitHousing Benefit

If you own your home, your property will need to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G (the lowest energy efficiency score you can get).

If you rent privately through a landlord, or live in social housing, the property you live in will need an EPC rating of E, F or G to qualify – and the landlord will have to approve any works.

Households that don’t claim benefits, but are in one of these EPC rating bands and earn £31,000 or less total, may also be eligible.

More: Cost of living

People who get money off energy bills via the Warm Home Discount Scheme will likely be eligible, too.

However, exactly what kind of help you can get doesn’t appear to be cut and dry.

Ofgem notes on its website: ‘It is important to note that eligibility for ECO does not necessarily mean that an energy supplier or installer will decide to install an energy efficiency measure in your home.’

How to apply: For more information, you can visit gov.uk’s page on the Energy Company Obligation.

Contact your local council (which you can find here) or energy supplier (which you can find here) to find out if you’re definitely eligible, and what grants or help may be available.

Local councils and energy suppliers can also refer individuals or households, too, as can the NHS if someone has a health condition that is being made worse due to living in a cold home, according to this June 2022 Ofgem guidance on ECO4 for councils.

Elderly person turning down the central heating with a wireless thermostat

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

What is it? Ofgem says the Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s aim is to help ‘decarbonise heat in buildings’.

Essentially, it gets you money off the cost of replacing a gas or fossil fuel-powered boiler with either an air-source heat pump, a ground source heat pump, or biomass boiler.

It’s not an insignificant amount, either, at around £,5000 to £6,000 – with £450 million total in the pot for this scheme. However, the money goes directly to your installer, who negotiates it for you.

Who is eligible? People in England and Wales can apply for this scheme.

People in Scotland and Northern Ireland will have access to different loans and grants respectively.

More: British Government

You need to apply for a property you own, be installing a new heating system after April 2022, and be replacing your fossil fuel-powered heating system with one that doesn’t use fossil fuels.

On top of that, there are a bunch of eligibility criteria for your property, which you can view on the government’s website.

It includes ensuring your home’s existing EPC doesn’t have any outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation – and making sure your home is even suitable for a low-carbon heating system, as many won’t be.

How to apply: For more information, check out gov.uk’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme page.

Via the website, you can search for an MCS Certified installer to get quotes, and they can confirm if you’re eligible for the scheme or not, before you make any final decisions.

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